Perkasie, a borough with its own electric company, on Thursday asked its residents and businesses to conserve power during the usual cold weather expected over the next few days.

"Perkasie customers are asked to voluntarily reduce their electricity usage from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday," the borough said in a news release.

"This is expected to be a time of high or peak usage, which is when electric utilities experience the highest prices."

Perkasie, whose electric company dates to 1900, contracts with power-producing utilities to buy electricity at wholesale rates for its borough customers. The contracts provide for higher prices at peak-demand periods.

"As a community-owned electric system, it is important that we work together to keep our electric rates as low as possible," Borough Manager Andrea L. Coaxum said.

The borough suggested that businesses and residents take extra care to shut off lights, TVs and computers that aren't being used; to unplug small appliances and chargers; and to avoid doing laundry between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Perkasie is one of only 35 Pennsylvania municipalities to own and operate an electric utility. The other 2,527 municipalities in the state are served by utilities independent of the local government.

Revenue from Perkasie's electric company covers the electricity costs and helps pay for other borough services.